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After a super party weekend, I thought it fitting to discuss what a lot of us will be dealing with tomorrow morning – <in horror> under eye bags.

I’d like to share with you some quick remedies, as well as long term solutions, for treating those icky under eye bags.

What are Under Eye Bags?

Under eye bags can range from minor short term puffiness to long term permanent fat pads and any of these tips works on ladies AND gentlemen so don’t be shy guys!

First let’s talk about the easy bags – the temporary eye puffiness that shows up for a day or two then leaves you in peace for a week before showing up again – usually on the day of a hot date or a board meeting. (If you have the more permanent kind of under eye bags scroll below for long term treatment options)

Causes of Minor Eye Puffiness

Overindulging in Alcohol or Salty Foods

The sodium content found in alcohol and salt causes you to retain water in your face and, since the skin under your eyes is thinner, it is most noticeable there.

Solution: I’m the last person to tell you to lighten up on the alcohol but it’s the obvious solution. However, if you must indulge, there are a few things you can do to lessen the puffy aftermath:

Drink lots of water to help flush the sodium out of your system.

Soak two tea bags in cold whole milk and let them sit in the fridge for 5-10 minutes. Apply one on each eye and relax for 10 minutes. Any flavor of tea will do but I prefer the Bigelow Mint Medley Herbal Tea because it’s super refreshing (sounds lame but trust me on this).

Add an extra pillow under your head at nighttime. This does wonders to help the lymphatic system drain down away from under your eyes making them less puffy.

Allergies

Allergens can dilate the capillaries around your eyes causing them to become puffy.

Sleeping on a Flat Pillow

The flatter you lay when sleeping the more fluid tends to pool around the eyes. Just remember to keep your head above your heart.

Solution:Add an extra pillow or get one that’s slightly puffier than the one you’re using.

Stress and/or Inactivity

can cause the tiny blood vessels around your eyes transporting lymphatic fluid and blood to become congested and overflow or leak, causing the tissue to swell.

Solution: Get your blood pumping with an early morning workout. If this isn’t possible then slather on some caffeine-based eye cream with a cold compress. The caffeine helps to constrict the blood vessels. I love the Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream if you go that route.

TIP: Don’t wash you’re face with hot water, use luke warm instead. Hot water can exacerbate your under eye puffiness, making it more noticeable and less easy to camouflage.

Long Term Under Eye Bags

More complicated to deal with are lose long term eye bags that stay with you no matter how good you’ve been the night before. These are usually due to uneven fatty pads that form under your eyelids that , because of the thinner skin in that area, bulge out a bit forming those lovely under eye bags.

Long term under eye bags are largely genetic and even happens to women (and men) who have low body fat on the rest of their body. The good news is that it can be helped! Check out this cool device.

Treatments for Under Eye Bags

LPG Mobilift M6 Depuffing Device

Mobilift M6 Depuffing Device

The LPG Mobilift M6 depuffing device is a temporary fix for puffy under eyes regardless of the cause. It encourages lymphatic and circulatory exchange with no downtime and no discomfort.

The procedure is quick and painless, taking about 10 minutes for the practitioner to roll a handheld wand over your under eye area which uses a suction to gently massage. The results only last about three days and the treatment runs at about $180.

I trust this treatment because the late Dr. Frederic Brandt (aka the Baron of Botox), gave it his stamp of approval. After only one treatment you can see dramatic results in the reduction of puffiness in your skin.

Brandt posits it to be a great ‘red carpet’ treatment and is currently conducting trials to verify previous European studies that show that repeated use of the LPG Mobilift M6 can promote the long term growth of collagen in the skin. I totally want in!

Neotensil by Living Proof

Before and After Using Neotensil

Neotensil by Living Proof is a great temporary solution for your under eye bags. Kind of like Spanx works for your tummy but less uncomfortable (and without the stigma). Each treatment lasts up to 16 hours and it costs about $375 for a seven week supply.

First, the Reshaping Base is applied to your under eye area. Then the Activating Layer Gel is layered on top and you have to sit expressionless for 5 minutes to give it time to set. If you smile or squint it, will crinkle which causes wrinkles in the skin and defeats the purpose.

Neotensil is ideal for those with under eye bags, at least as bad as Eva’s in the above photo. If not, chances are you won’t see much of a difference and you just threw 400 bucks out the window.

Belotero Dermal Filler

Belotero is a dermal filler that has small enough beading to be precise enough to fill in the tiny areas around the fat pads under your eyes. Sounds counterintuitive, to add more filler to the bags, but by filling in those concave parts you can make the contrast less severe, making your under eye skin appear smoother, muting the appearance of under eye bags.

TIP: Other fillers like Juvederm or Restalyne can also work but I first mentioned Belotero Balance since it’s low viscosity and harder for your injector to screw up. So, unless you trust your injector implicitly, you may want to try Belotero Balance you first time around.

If you have under eye bags and have never tried this trick, then here’s your chance ! Sign up to win FREE UNDER EYE Fillers at a doctor of your choice! Just sign up at the end of this article!

Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty

Lower Blephoroplasty for Under Eye Bags

A good way to see if Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty is a good option for you is to use your finger to pull your lower lid out and up, raising the outer corner slightly. Like the look? Then read on because that’s what a good lower blepharoplasty should look like

Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is the surgical removal of excess skin and fat, as well as, the tightening of the muscle in your lower eyelid. In more minor cases the surgeon may choose to redistribute the fat, spreading it out more evenly for a smoother appearance.

The incision is made on the inside of the lower lid so there’s really not much risk of post surgical scarring. You will be a little bit swollen for about ten days but it may not even feel that way since the bags have been removed or repositioned. Learn more about this procedure on my article Lower Blepharoplasty: Greek for ‘Please take my Bags!’.